Rail-brace



B. T. GIBBS, JR. HAIL BRACE.l APPLICATION FILED APR. 13. 1920.

1,370,302. Patented-Mar. 1, 1921.

:1; Y '/E/I/W- UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE.

BNEDICT T. -GIBBS, JR., F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 MORDLEIBT` FROG & CROSSING WORKS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

. RAIL-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, A1921.

Application filed April 13, 1920. Serial No. 373,523.

- at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rail-Braces, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to rail braces. The objectof the invention is to provide a device of this class for use against one side of a rail for adjustably laterally positioning it, and for rigidly securing it in position after wear has taken place between the rod and brace itself, and parts against which .the brace bears, the device being especially ap- .plicable to rails at and adjacent to.switch points whose lateral movement to and from the unsupported side of the rail render the use of spikes or other securing devices imractical also on guard rails or on rails on eavy curves.

The invention consists in a device of this class in which the rail brace block proper,

moves only longitudinally of the base plate on whichit is usually mounted, thus insuring effective action of the device in all posltions .of adjustment, in such a device which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory in operation, and not readily liable to get out of order, and particularly in many features and details of construction hereafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims. y

Referring to the drawings in which similar numerals represent the same parts ,throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of mechanism illustrating this invention in its. preferred The upper surface of this plate 10 in theV designhere shown, .is provided with a recess of substantial depth having one wall 16 a vainst which the edge 18 of one rail flange a a uts, the bottom surface 20 on which all the essential parts of the device rest and an opposite wall 22 against which bearing block 24 rests. This block 24 rises a substantial distance abovethe top of plate 10 to 'provide a vertical bearing face 26 extending 'across the plate 10 at substahtially right angles thereto. Bearing block 24 is in the case here illustrated made separable from the plate .10 and secured in place by suitable rivets 28, but these details are wholly unessential.

Between rail 12 and face 26 of bearing block 24 are located two vry essential members entering in thisinvention, viz., a brace block 30 and a wedge 32, interitting together on the angular line 34 which is diagonal to'. the center line of the rail 10 and to the bearing face 26. Brace block 30 is secured against movement transversely of the plate 10 by two different mechanisms. The first, preferable, but not essential is the downwardly turned lips or ianges 36 embracing opposite side edges of the plate; the second is the bolts 38 or the like extending rigidly upward from the plate 10 and entering elongated slots 40 formed in the member 30 so constructedas shown that, whenthese bolts are loosened the block 30 canbc moved ,transversely ofthe rail and longitudinally of the plate ,10, but not otherwise. These bolts 38 or the like, when-tight enedperform the additional function of detachably securing' the 4block x 30 against movement in any direction.

In the particular case here illustrated, the

vbolts 38 are shown as having countersunk wedge 32 it has another inclined surface 46,

4which as shown, clearsy the surface 20 of 48 in a counterclockwise direction to force' the surface 42 of the block-onto the rail ange 44 and thus clamp the rail to the plate bo1ts38 move.

' 50 60 of plate 10 vor brace bloc 60 consequent '.10 38, descri ed in the last paragraph, the

wedge 32 is also cla-n ipedv in fixed position. The smaller end of the wedge 32 is also provided with a top flange 54 extending over thev adjacent portion ofthe brace block 15 and parallel to the flange 52. Through this flange' 54 an'd the opposlte rtion of flange 52 are a rowA of yregistering 'oles 56 adapted to be selectively enteedbycotter' pin 58 adapted to be` inserted,in the case .here A 20 illustrated, in the' last hole beyond the edge yof brace block 4I60 of plate 10 and the e.

30 after thewedge'32 has been driven upwardas .viewed 1n Fig.. 1 to place tol hold the wedge 32 in positlongeven shouldthe The vplane ofconta'ct between the vertical :face of member 52 which bears on the vertivc alfface ofgroove 'is'inclined inwardly on member `52', as shown in- Fi 2, so that au when the parts a'r'e locked toget er in wedging actionthe bearing block cannot tilt upward from point 48 and get out from under thewedge. m, In the operation of the device assume that 351 wearfhas .taken place betweenthe rail 12 andlthplate'lO along the linel -16 or wearv has taken place between-the brace itself and arts off'theA rail against which the Ibrace arsA and that adjustment has to be made.

' 40 The operator simply loosens the nuts on bolts -38 until it is possible` by hitting the lowenwedge 32 as viewed in Fi .'1 to drive said wedgev upward, a'srview in Fig. 1, whatever distancev may be ir uired :to move 45 both the block 30 and the ra' 12 tothe left as viewed" in Fig. 2 to the desired position. On reaching this position vthe operator tightens the bolts 38, and inserts thec'otter pin 58 in the last holeI 154 which is be ond the edgekl30.` In thls position the rail is firmly lclamped to the plate; the wedge isv firml clamped Vupon the plate, the wedge is held1 a inst retract` ing movement, 'even .on :the` astening pro,- 56 duced by the-)bolt being loosened, and both the wedge and block are in operating-position directly over .the late 10, thus insurin a direct transfer of a l strain upon the ral 12 vdirectly tothe bearinglmember 24 and l to the platel. Having t us Idescrlbedmy invention what .ters `Patent, is

1. In mechanism Aof the class described, a

- Y I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letf et plate adaptedA be secured upon a tie, problock and wedge in the body .vided with a bearing pointl for brace4 block mechanism located o'n one side of the rail; a brace block mechanism engaging the. rall,

a wedge having one face engaging the brace block 1n a plane angular to the central axis 470 of the rail, and a second face' engaging the bearing point on the plate, means detach- 'Y ably securing said brace block to the plate preventing movement vof the block transversely to the plate, while detachably permitting movement: of the blocklongitudi-- nally`of the plate, means independent of the iirst .mentioned securing means locking the wedge ragainst transverse movement with reference tothe plate, and meansl on the block- -engag' g the plate when the brace block is secured thereto. 1

. 2. In'mechanism of the class described, a base plate adapted to be'secured under a railroad rail, a rail, a, brace block bearing against the rail, ilanges onopposite sides of theA wedge to clamp it tov the block embracing the sides of the late to permit movement of the block towar and from the rail and not otherwise, independent means for detachably securing the block to the plate, 'a wedge inemberhaving a face inclined to the length of the rail bearin -on a corresponding face on the brace bloc and having another, angular 'face parallel to the rail bearing on a supporting surface carried by the basejplate and interfitting means between the .wedge and brace block preventing movement of the wedge erpendicularly to the face of the plate in ependently of the brace block, and adjustable means for locking the wedge in selected po- 'successive pairs of holes as they. are beyond `an edge of the brace block, for the purposes set forth. 4. In m hanism of the class described, a plate adalted'to be secured upon a tie, rovided wit Aa bearing pointfor brace b ock mechanism located on .one side of the rail; a brace block engaging the.rail,.a wedge having one face'engaging the brace block in a plane,

angular to the central axis of the rail, and a-second face engaging the bearing `point on'the plate, the contact face between the being inclined downwardly of the wedge and outwardly from the body of the block, means detachably securing lsaid brace block to the plate preventing movement ofjthe block transversely to 'the plate, while detachably per.

.sitions of its lengthwise movement trans-f rovided with per orations adapted mitting movement of the block longitudinally of the plate, and independent means locking the wedge against transverse movement with reference to the plate. I

5. In mechanism of the class described, a plate adapted to be secured upon a tie, provided with a bearing point for brace block mechanism located on one side of the rail; a. brace block engaging the rail, a wedge having one face engaging the brace block in a plane angular to thecentral axsof the rail and a second Jface engaging the bearing point on the plate, the Contact Aface between the block and wedge being inclined downwardly in .the body of the Wedge and outwardly from the body of the block, means detachably securing said brace block to the plate preventing movement ofthe block transversely to the plate, While detachably permitting movement of the block longitudinally of the plate, independent means locking the wedge against transverse movement with reference to the plate, and

means on the block engaging the. Wedge to I BENEDICT T. GIBBS, JR.

Witnesses:

DWIGHT B. CHEEVER, ANNA RosEN'rHAL. 

